Treatment of gynecological malignancies: long-term follow-up of health-related quality of life and healthcare costs

Kristiina Pynnä; Piia Vuorela; Pasi Aronen; Harri Sintonen; Tarja Vainiola; Arto Leminen; Risto P Roine; Pirjo Räsänen

doi:10.2217/cer-2018-0125

Treatment of gynecological malignancies: long-term follow-up of health-related quality of life and healthcare costs

J Comp Eff Res. 2019 May;8(7):475-486. doi: 10.2217/cer-2018-0125. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Authors

Kristiina Pynnä¹, Piia Vuorela², Pasi Aronen³, Harri Sintonen⁴, Tarja Vainiola³, Arto Leminen¹, Risto P Roine⁵, Pirjo Räsänen⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Helsinki & Helsinki University Hospital, PO Box 140 FI-00029 HUS, Finland.
² University of Helsinki, Biomedicum, Haartmaninkatu 8, 00290 Helsinki, Finland.
³ University of Helsinki & Helsinki University Hospital, Administration, PO Box 705 FI-00029 HUS, Finland.
⁴ Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, PO Box 41, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland.
⁵ University of Helsinki & Helsinki University Hospital, Administration, PO Box 705 FI-00029 HUS, Finland & University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
⁶ External Evaluation Unit, University of Helsinki & Helsinki University Hospital, PO Box 440 FI-00029 HUS, Finland.

PMID: 30922069
DOI: 10.2217/cer-2018-0125

Abstract

Aim: To assess long-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and treatment-related costs in gynecological cancer patients, and to compare HRQoL between cancer types and to age-standardized general female population. Materials & methods: A prospective 8-10-year follow-up of 218 patients treated in Helsinki University Hospital in 2002-2004. Results: The most common malignancies were uterine, ovarian and cervical cancers. The mean HRQoL scores were 0.880 (baseline), 0.885 (6 months) and 0.884 for survivors in the end of the study. Depression, vitality and sexual activity were impaired at baseline but improved during follow-up. Total secondary healthcare costs during the follow-up averaged EUR 41342. Conclusion: The long-term HRQoL of surviving gynecological cancer patients was good and similar to that of age-standardized general female population.

Keywords: cancer; costs; gynecology; health-related quality of life; treatment.

Publication types

Observational Study

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Depression / epidemiology
Female
Finland
Follow-Up Studies
Genital Neoplasms, Female / economics*
Genital Neoplasms, Female / psychology
Genital Neoplasms, Female / therapy*
Health Expenditures / statistics & numerical data*
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Prospective Studies
Quality of Life*
Sexual Behavior
Survivors / psychology
Survivors / statistics & numerical data*